Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., refrained from criticizing President Biden’s Department of Energy regarding a significant oil acquisition aimed at replenishing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), despite having criticized former President Trump in 2020 for a similar proposal in a stimulus package.
On Monday, the DOE announced it had purchased 4.65 million barrels of oil to help replenish the SPR, which the Biden administration has utilized to combat rising gas prices. The oil was acquired at an average cost of $77 per barrel.
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Schumer did not critique Biden’s oil acquisition in the same way he did for Trump’s request. (Getty Images)
“This administration has consistently prioritized the economic and energy security of Americans. This achievement demonstrates that when the Biden-Harris Administration formulates and executes a plan, we deliver results for the American people,” stated Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in a press release.
“As we committed, we have restored the 180 million barrels back to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve released in response to Putin’s war in Ukraine – all while securing a favorable deal for taxpayers and ensuring the readiness of the largest Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the world,” she added.
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Granholm unveiled the addition to the reserve to restore supply. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The oil purchase received minimal attention, not heavily publicized by the president or the administration. Many lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, were largely occupied with the investigation into the recent assassination attempt against Trump, which overshadowed this event. Additionally, two critical pieces of legislation focusing on online safety for minors and a possible expansion of the child tax credit were scheduled for votes that week, diverting further focus.
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Schumer did not offer any comments regarding Biden’s oil purchase. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
When approached for a comment, Schumer’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital regarding the differences between Trump and Biden’s oil acquisitions for the SPR or whether the president was effectively “bailing out” major oil companies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Trump administration attempted to include $3 billion for oil purchases to replenish the SPR at a low price within the extensive $2 trillion pandemic stimulus deal. At that time, oil prices had plummeted to around $30 per barrel in March 2020. Ultimately, the Trump administration’s proposal was excluded from the final legislation due to significant opposition from Democrats.
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A lone oil barrel is shown near the Kokalik river, situated in the National Petroleum Reserve in northern Alaska. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
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At the time, Schumer had described the Trump administration’s request as a “$3 billion bailout for big oil,” as reported by Roll Call.
The Trump campaign has yet to respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
